Biodegradation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in aquifer columns amended with hydrogen peroxide and nitrate

The ability of indigenous microorganisms to degrade benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) in laboratory scale flow-through aquifer columns was tested separately with hydrogen peroxide (110 mg/l) and nitrate (330 mg/l as NO₃⁻) amendments to air-saturated influent nutrient solution. The continuous removal of individual components from all columns relative to the sterile controls provided evidence for biodegradation. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, the indigeneous microorganisms degraded benzene and toluene (> 95%), meta- plus para-xylene (80%) and ortho-xylene (70%). Nitrate addition resulted in 90% removal of toluene and 25% removal of ortho-xylene. However, benzene, ethylbenzene, meta- and para-xylene concentrations were not significantly reduced after 42 days of operation. Following this experiment, low dissolved oxygen (< 1 mg/l) conditions were initiated with the nitrate-amended column influent in order to mimic contaminated groundwater conditions distal from a nutrient injection well. Toluene continued to be effectively degraded (> 90%), and more than 25% of the benzene, 40% of the ethylbenzene, 50% of the meta- plus para-xylenes and 60% of the ortho-xylene were removed after several months of operation.     

Steam Surface Pasteurization of Beef Frankfurters

Meat and poultry products are sources of foodborne bacterial contamination. We used flash steam heating followed by evaporative cooling to quickly reduce bacterial contamination on the surface of beef frankfurters without degrading appearance. The rate of heat transfer was studied by measuring surface temperature in a pressure chamber during steam heating. Quality changes were determined by measuring color and weight as functions of steam temperature and treatment time. Efficacy of the process was verified by microbiological experiments using L. innocua. Treatment times of 30–40 set at 115–136°C gave a 4 log reduction in bacterial counts on the surface without severely affecting color or weight. After long-term storage at 6°C and at 19°C, levels of bacteria on inoculated frankfurters remained reduced and there was no difference between treated and untreated products in color or weight.     

对中国白酒业的忧思

中国白酒产业在20世纪80—90年代，曾经是“高税高利”产业。“利大于税”曾一度成为白酒产业的巨大经营优势。1994年以后，国家相继对白酒税收做了几次重大调整，至此，白酒产业已成“昨日黄花”，风光不再。2002年整体亏损面近1／3，亏损总额达8亿元。前50家企业年资产回报率大部分在3％—5％。相当一部分企业不足1％。因此。白酒产业呼唤“公平待遇”，希望国家为酒立法，“公平税赋”，让白酒业焕发新的生机，为国家“全面建设小康社会”做出新的贡献。(小雨)     

Storage Changes of Fresh and Pasteurized Blue Crab Meat in Different Types of Packaging

We investigated pasteurization and storage of blue crabmeat in steel cans, aluminum cans, plastic cans, nonbarrier pouches, and barrier pouches. Fresh meat was packed in copolymer polyethylene/polypro-pylene cups, Saran® over-wrapped or vacuum skin packaged polystyrene trays, and nonbarrier pouches. Meat pasteurized in plastic and aluminum cans had better sensory and microbiological quality and longer shelf life than meat packed in steel cans. Oxygen-barrier pouches had the lowest quality and shortest shelf life. Nonbarrier pouches had product with quality similar to meat in steel cans, but with an extended shelf life. No packaging materials improved the microbiological shelf life of freshly cooked meat. Vacuum skin packaging resulted in improved sensory qualities of freshly cooked and picked meat.     

An Eco-Friendly Approach to the Control of Pathogenic Microbes and Anopheles stephensi Malarial Vector Using Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles (Mg-NPs) Fabricated by Penicillium chrysogenum

The discovery of eco-friendly, rapid, and cost-effective compounds to control diseases caused by microbes and insects are the main challenges. Herein, the magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) are successfully fabricated by harnessing the metabolites secreted by Penicillium chrysogenum. The fabricated MgO-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, DLS, EDX, FT-IR, and XPS analyses. Data showed the successful formation of crystallographic, spherical, well-dispersed MgO-NPs with sizes of 7–40 nm at a maximum wavelength of 250 nm. The EDX analysis confirms the presence of Mg and O ions as the main components with weight percentages of 13.62% and 7.76%, respectively. The activity of MgO-NPs as an antimicrobial agent was investigated against pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, and exhibited zone of inhibitions of 12.0 ± 0.0, 12.7 ± 0.9, 23.3 ± 0.8, 17.7 ± 1.6, and 14.7 ± 0.6 mm respectively, at 200 µg mL⁻¹. The activity is decreased by decreasing the MgO-NPs concentration. The biogenic MgO-NPs exhibit high efficacy against different larvae instar and pupa of Anopheles stephensi, with LC50 values of 12.5–15.5 ppm for I–IV larvae instar and 16.5 ppm for the pupa. Additionally, 5 mg/cm² of MgO-NPs showed the highest protection percentages against adults of Anopheles stephensi, with values of 100% for 150 min and 67.6% ± 1.4% for 210 min.     

采油菌株的分离及其特性研究

从采油菌剂及原油中共分离出11株细菌,并对其发酵特性和生理生化特性进行研究。结果表明,分离菌株可以利用石蜡产表面活性物质,但不产气;菌株发酵液的pH值没有明显的变化,对原油有不同程度的乳化作用;Y-1和Y-5为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),Y-2和Y-6为节杆菌属(Arthrobacter),Y-3为棒杆菌属(Corynebacterium),Y-4、J-1、J-2、J-4、J-5和J-6为不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)。大多数分离菌株为兼性厌氧菌,具有运动性,不产生硫化氢,能够利用蔗糖、葡萄糖等廉价碳源产生有机酸和气体,这些特性有利于菌株应用于微生物采油。     

PCR生物芯片/微装置在微生物检测中应用研究

聚合酶链式反应(PCR)技术已经在分子生物学、生物化学、临床医学、遗传以及法医等领域得到广泛的应用.基于微电子机械系统技术开发而成的PCR生物芯片由于具有所需样品和反应混合物体积小、反应时间短、轻便等优点而日益受到人们的重视.介绍PCR生物芯片/微装置(包括反应池内固定扩增式和连续流动式)在微生物埃希氏大肠杆菌(E.coli)和微生物战剂检测中的应用.     

固态发酵产酶反应中体系传热传质行为分析

固态发酵是纤维素类生物质转化的有效途径,具有用水量少、容积产率高等优点。固态发酵生产纤维素酶一般是液态发酵酶产量的近3倍,可大幅降低酶的生产成本。在固态发酵过程,微生物在缺水环境中生长,发酵底物和接种物之间存在异质性,导致发酵热量分布不均匀、发酵过程氧气与中间产物不易扩散等问题。基于此,重点对固态发酵反应中体系传热传质方式及其影响因素进行了分析,并探讨其强化方法。根据传热方式,总结了发酵罐适用的导热微分方程及传热模拟方法,并分析气泡和颗粒基质中的传质过程及其限速步骤以及解决传质限速的途径。反应体系传热传质机理研究可促进固态发酵技术产业化应用进程。该研究可为有机废弃物固态发酵技术研究及应用提供一定的理论和技术支持。     

外源接种粪便好氧堆肥的微生物相变化研究

为了探明在引入外源混合微生物的粪便好氧堆肥过程中微生物种类和数量变化特性，以粪便为主要培养基，从有关环境中采集堆肥微生物进行富集培养，再以富集培养产物为起始菌种添加到新鲜粪便中,进行模拟堆肥，定量研究了粪便好氧堆肥中细菌、放线菌、霉菌和酵母菌的数量和种类，结果表明细菌是中温阶段的主要作用菌群，对发酵升温起主要作用；放线菌是高温阶段的主要作用菌群；芽孢杆菌、链霉菌、小多孢菌和高温放线菌是堆肥过程中的优势种。     

窖泥糟醅发酵过程微生物多态性特征

窖泥糟醅是发酵过程微生物栖息的生态环境,其中微生物种群随发酵过程的进行而不停地演替和代谢,具有明显的多态性。其微：生物种群的多态性主要表现为厌氧异氧菌、甲烷菌、己酸菌、乳酸菌、硫酸盐还原菌、硝酸盐还原菌等。由微生物种群的多态性必然引起微生物种群作用特征的多态性、发酵代谢产物的多态性,必然也引起产酒质量的多态性。